Canada
SportCaller touches down with Betfred USA Sports for fan activation
Free-to-play specialist stakes another flag in Colorado’s sports-mad state with a new game leveraging operator’s sponsorship of Denver Broncos
SportCaller, the leading free-to-play (F2P) sports-game provider, has announced its latest stateside partnership in Colorado with Betfred USA Sports, the US subsidiary of UK-based operator Betfred, consolidating its position in the vanguard of a burgeoning North American market.
In an ongoing weekly free-to-play series, players can sign up for free and have the chance to compete for bragging rights and win up to a $1,000 of Denver Broncos merchandise. Betfred USA Sports recently signed a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the Colorado-based football team.
The deal also gives Betfred USA Sports’ growing list of US platform and sportsbook partners access to the industry’s highest quality F2P content solutions for all major US sports (including American football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey and golf) courtesy of SportCaller’s proprietary SCore platform which is leading the way as a core acquisition and retention tool for some of the largest sports betting and media networks in the States.
The past year has seen SportCaller strengthen its presence and influence in the US, releasing double-digit games for new clients including CBS, BetMGM and leading sportsbook-DFS operator FanDuel. As a result, the F2P specialist is bridging the gap between operators, media companies and sports franchises, establishing F2P as a standalone vertical in its own right. This strategic solution provides flexible ways for operators to responsibly acquire and retain customers at low cost but also stay fully compliant (in any state) as regulation continues to roll out in different forms across North America.
Cillian Barry, MD at SportCaller, said: “We’re thrilled to be huddling up with Betfred and their sponsorship ahead of the forthcoming American football season, giving players in Colorado a chance to win some exceptional merch on their local state’s illustrious franchise. Sportsbook marketing used to be about asking players for their favourite team on a registration form. However, with SportCaller’s F2P platform, you enjoy a deep dive into the drivers of any given player, allowing for hyper-personalised marketing communication for both new players and CRM techniques around existing active bettors.
“F2P works well for a US market where on-the-go sports betting remains embryonic. The vast majority of Americans love sports and like the idea of betting, but there are gradations of familiarity and education to be cultivated. Free-to-play is the stepping-stone product of choice, providing fun, responsible fan-engagement opportunities across an ad-hoc sporting timetable still subject to the whim of COVID-19.”
Bryan Bennett, Chief Operating Officer of Betfred USA Sports, added: “We knew we needed a socially engaging product to help get the brand out and at the same time leverage our new sports sponsorship. SportCaller’s F2P platform performs as an acquisition tool that activates fan engagement, with a weekly questionnaire awarding $1,000 of merchandise, by acquiring potential sports bettors. In an already highly competitive market, we were confident that SportCaller’s experience and past results were what was needed.”
Colorado became the 18th state to legalise online sports betting in the US in May this year. The online sports betting market in the Centennial State is predicted to reach approximately $200 million in annual revenue at saturation, according to H2 Gambling Capital.
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British Columbia Lottery Corporation
SCCG Management Signs Contract with British Columbia Lottery Corporation
SCCG Management has signed a contract with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the B.C. Crown corporation which conducts and manages commercial gambling in the province, including lotteries, casinos, and online gaming. This partnership aims to undertake a comprehensive assessment and strategic enhancement of BCLC’s diverse operations.
The work between SCCG and BCLC will involve a thorough review of technological infrastructures, strategic market positioning, and the integration of various gaming modalities. SCCG’s extensive expertise will be pivotal in harmonizing BCLC’s online and physical gaming experiences.
Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, said: “Our collaboration with BCLC represents a remarkable opportunity to push the boundaries of innovation within the gaming industry. We are committed to deploying our resources and expertise to enhance BCLC’s operational efficiencies and customer engagement strategies. It’s an honor to partner with an organization that has a robust impact on the community through its support of public initiatives.”
AGCO
AGCO Requires Ontario Gaming Operators to Stop Offering WBA Bets Due to Integrity Concerns
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has mandated all Ontario-registered sportsbook operators to halt offering and accepting wagers on World Boxing Association (WBA) events immediately. This measure is being taken to protect the Ontario betting public following concerns that WBA-sanctioned boxing matches are not adequately being safeguarded against match-fixing and insider betting.
Since December 2023, the AGCO has been conducting a comprehensive review of suspicious wagering activity on a WBA-sanctioned title fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro that was held in Orlando, Florida. Suspicious betting patterns on the bout lasting over 5.5 rounds were reported to the AGCO by two registered independent integrity monitors and detected in Ontario by a registered igaming operator. Media reports also alleged that Tellez’s Manager placed $110,000 on the match lasting longer than 5.5 rounds at a Florida casino. The bout ended with Tellez knocking out Navarro in the 10th round.
Following an intensive review that included outreach to the WBA, Ontario-registered gaming operators, independent integrity monitors, and regulators in other jurisdictions, the AGCO has concluded that bets related to WBA events do not currently meet the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.
The AGCO requires all Ontario-registered gaming operators to ensure the sport betting products they offer are on events that are effectively supervised by a sport governing body. At a minimum, the sport governing body must have and enforce codes of conduct that prohibit betting by insiders.
Registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate to the AGCO that the WBA prohibits betting from insiders, which could include an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, medical professionals, or others with access to non-public information. Further, registered gaming operators were unable to demonstrate that the WBA took any action to investigate or enforce the allegations of potential match-fixing and insider wagering.
The AGCO has indicated to registered operators that in order for WBA betting products to be reinstated in Ontario, operators must demonstrate that the WBA effectively supervises its events, thus bringing them into compliance with the Registrar’s Standards. In December 2022, the AGCO required gaming operators to stop offering bets on UFC events for similar issues related to insider betting safeguards. Within a month, UFC amended its policies and implemented new protocols that allowed the AGCO to reinstate betting on UFC events in the province.
“Ontarians who wish to bet on sporting events need to be confident that those events are fairly run, and that clear integrity safeguards are in place and enforced by an effective sport governing body. Knowing the popularity of boxing in Ontario, we look forward to reinstating betting on WBA events once appropriate safeguards against possible match-fixing and insider betting have been confirmed,” Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and CEO of AGCO, said.
Andrew Cochrane Chief Business Officer of GiG
GiG increases Ontario market presence, powering the launch of Casino Time
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG), has announced the launch of Casino Time, powered by its award winning iGaming platform and pioneering real-time rules engine LogicX, with revolutionary sportsbook, SportX soon to follow, to further extend its footprint in the regulated Canadian province of Ontario.
The launch of Casino Time carries extra significance, marking only the second time that on-demand, regulated online Bingo has been made available in Ontario. The new Bingo product vertical, launched alongside a strong Casino offering, will be boosted by GiG’s new sportsbook, SportX, as part of a planned release later this year.
GiG has focused its solutions on driving exponential growth in revenue for operators with its highly scalable iGaming platform, offering localised third party content and leading suppliers for the Ontarian market. GiGs peerless gamification layer creates an optimised and immersive casino experience tailored to regional preferences, swelling client retention and player engagement.
Canadian owned and operated, Casino Time is a joint venture amongst leading retail operators in Ontario’s Charitable Gaming sector, delivering Bingo, Slots and Live Dealer Casino Games. Promising a personalised service and community experience, Casino Time is continuing its long-standing partnership with local charities, introducing its joint fundraising model into the iGaming space for the first time.
Now coming towards the end of its second year of licensed operations, Ontario has emerged as one of the largest iGaming markets in North America, second only to New Jersey according to data supplied by Vixio. The first and as yet only Canadian province to launch a regulated market, Ontario boasts more than 1.6 million active player accounts spread over 40 plus operators, generating €1.3 billion in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in its first year of trading, with this data supplied by iGaming Ontario.
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Business Officer of GiG, said: “GiG continues to set the pace with a strong cadence of brand launches in 2024, and I’m pleased that when operators are seeking platform solutions in regulated markets, GiG is leading the pack. Our partnership with Casino Time, will help deliver something new and exciting to the Ontarian market, and further helps to demonstrate the flexibility of our solutions, adapting to match the regional aspirations of our partners to deliver growth.”
D’Arcy Stuart, CEO of Casino Time, said: “We are thrilled to partner with GiG as the core technology provider of our iGaming platform. Their powerful suite of player engagement tools, as well as diverse content and regulatory integrations, underpin our ability to serve and delight our player community. Our hybrid online and offline customer network, as well as unique bingo offerings, will drive exciting opportunities as the platform and the marketplace continues to grow.”
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